Leonard Duffield

Leonard Duffield was the son of Richard Henry Duffield and his first wife Ada Goddard. His father Richard Henry was born in Radford on 11 September 1864, the son of Richard Henry and Elizabeth Duffield (née Evans). He was living with his parents in Chesterfield in 1881 but by 1891 Richard snr. and Elizabeth had returned to Radford, Nottingham, although their son was no longer living with them. His mother Ada was born in Deeopcar, Yorkshire, in about 1872, the daughter of Samuel and Ellen Goddard (née Hawley). Richard Henry (27), a labourer, and Ada (21), of no occupation, were married at Penistone parish church on 27 August 1892 (J/A/S Wortley Yorkshire). They probably had four children, one of whom died in infancy. Their surviving children were: Frank b. 2 November 1892 bap. Bolsterstone Sheffield 23 November 1892; Richard Henry b. 24 February 1894 bap. Bolsterstone 21 March 1894 and Leonard b. 29 September 1895 bap. Bolsterstone 12 January 1896. Ada Duffield died aged 24 in 1896 (reg. Wortley) which resulted in the break up of the family. By 1901 Richard Henry and his son Frank (8) were living with Richard’s widowed mother Elizabeth Duffield (65) at 56 Citadel Street, Radford. Richard Henry jnr. (7) was living with his maternal aunt Catherine Hall and her husband George and their children on Bulwell Street, Chesterfield. Leonard (5) meanwhile was living with his widowed maternal grandmother, Ellen Goddard (56), in Stocksbridge, Wortley, Yorkshire. Richard snr. married Sarah Ellen Towlson (b. 1868) in 1905 (O/N/D Nottingham); there were no children of the marriage. In 1911 he and Sarah (42) were living at 62 St Peter's Street, Radford. From the way Richard completed the census it appeared that his three children by his first marraige were living with him and his second wife. However, having written the details of his three sons Richard then crossed out the details. Although his son Richard Henry has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census, Frank had joined the Royal Marines Light Infantry in 1909 and was probably serving in Chatham although he transferred to the Royal Navy on 8 April 1911, and Leonard was a fellow lodger with his uncle, Mark Goddard (Ada's brother), in Deepcar, Yorkshire. One miltary record gives Leonard's residence when he enlisted in 1914 as Nottingham although he enlisted in Consett, County Durham. Richard's second wife Sarah Ellen died in June 1911 (A/M/J Nottingham, burial 10 June) and he married Eliza Punter in 1912 (J/F/M). Eliza died in 1926 (J/F/M Nottingham). The widowed Richard was still living at 62 St. Peter's Street in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled; he had retired as a coal miner hewer. Richard died in Nottingham in June 1943 (burial 17 June). Leonard's brother Frank who had served in the Royal Marines Light Infantry from 24 November 1909 to 7 April 1911 and then in the Royal Navy, served continuously in the RN until 7 April 1923 when he was discharged on completion of his engagement. He transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve on 8 April. Frank had probably served in the UK throughout the war. Their brother Richard Henry is also commemorated on Radford St Peter war memorial. He served in the Royal Sussex Regiment under an assumed name, Robert HENRYS, and died in France in 1916.

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